Pancreatitis: a Very Dangerous Condition that Tends to Relapse Repeatedly

I still remember quite well how a friend of mine came to me one day to express indignation over her husband's excessive alcohol consumption, concerned that her husband might develop heart disease. She was right to be indignant all right, but it was another condition that her husband developed from too much alcohol drinking - pancreatitis. Indeed, doctors affirm that immoderate consumption of alcoholic beverage is a factor in the occurrence of pancreatitis.

Should my friend be somehow thankful then it wasn't the treacherous heart disease her husband got? The answer is a resounding no; any medical condition is always a cause for concern. This is especially true in the case of my friend's husband who was diagnosed of having acute pancreatitis. As his condition was deemed very dangerous, his doctor recommended an immediate surgery.

There are two types of pancreatitis: acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Both types refer to an inflammatory disorder that affects the pancreas - the organ that produces digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon which assist in breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Referring to the particular acute pancreatitis case of my friend's husband, it was indicated in his medical record that his "pancreas has become inflamed as a result of the destruction of its tissue by pancreatic juice which has been prevented from flowing out through the duct going to the intestine."

It has been recorded that approximately fifty percent of acute pancreatitis sufferers go through mild symptoms and may recover sans therapeutic treatment. In the other half of the cases, severe pain can take place in the left upper or middle abdomen, which can radiate all the way to the back. The attack begins all too suddenly, and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal bruising, and shock. Soon the victim will be sweating profusely and prostrated, and abdominal tenderness and swelling will ensue. The condition may be likened to gallstone colic, perforated ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, or intestinal impediment.